Family Christmas for boy given cancer all-clear
BBCA young boy is looking forward to Christmas after getting the all-clear from cancer.
Eight-year-old Jaxen, from Newcastle, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2022 and has been in and out of the city's Royal Victoria Infirmary for the last three years.
He said that this year he was looking forward to having "the proper experience of Christmas".
His father Shaun urged families who have children in hospital during the festive period to "just keep positive and stay strong".
Jaxen's treatment left him neutropenic, which meant his body was low in white blood cells that protect against infection.
During hospital stays, he was only allowed one visitor because of the risk of infection.
Jaxen said he was sad to have missed family dinners and seeing all of his relatives.
Shaun said: "Instead of festive plans and family gatherings, everything had to be scaled back to keep him safe, with the constant risk of infection overshadowing the season.
"This Christmas will be their first normal one together in three years, a milestone the whole family is counting down to with joy.
"Now that he's not doing treatment we can sit back and relax."
He also thanked the doctors and nurses who helped his son "get his life back".
Make-A-Wish UKJaxen recently enjoyed a shopping spree thanks to a charity that supports children with critical and life-limiting illnesses.
Jason Suckley, chief executive of Make-A-Wish UK, said: "This Christmas we estimate around 1,000 children will be diagnosed with a life-changing illness that makes them eligible for a wish.
"We can give a child a chance to hope and to dream big, no matter what they're facing."
